Abstract: WITHDRAWN: High Willingness to Use Rapid Fentanyl Test Strips Among Young Adults Who Use Drugs (Society for Prevention Research 26th Annual Meeting)

Schedule:

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Lexington (Hyatt Regency Washington, Washington, DC)

* noted as presenting author

Maxwell Krieger, BS, Research Assistant, Brown University, Providence, RI

Jesse Yedinak, MPA, Project Director, Brown University, Providence, RI

Jane A Buxton, MBBS, Epidemiologist and Harm Reduction Lead, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Mark Lysyshyn, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Edward Bernstein, MD, Professor, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA

Josiah D Rich, MD, Professor, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University, Providence, RI

Traci C Green, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, The Warren Alpert School of Medicine of Brown University, Providence, RI

Scott E Hadland, MD, Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

Brandon Marshall, PhD, Associate Professor, Brown University, Providence, RI

Introduction: Synthetic opioid overdose mortality among young adults has risen more than 300% since 2013, primarily as a result of fentanyl-contaminated heroin and other illicit drugs. Rapid fentanyl test strips, which can be used to detect the presence of fentanyl in drugs (before use) or urine (after use) may help inform people about their exposure risk. The purpose of this study was to determine whether young adults who use drugs were willing to use rapid fentanyl test strips as a harm reduction intervention to help prevent overdose.

Methods: We recruited a convenience sample of drug-using young adults in Rhode Island from May to September 2017 through internet and bus advertisements, public canvassing, and word of mouth. Eligible participants (aged 18 to 35 with self-reported past 30-day heroin or cocaine use, injection drug use, or who purchased prescription pills on the street) completed an hour-long, interviewer-administered survey. The survey assessed socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics, overdose risk, as well as potential fentanyl exposure and willingness to use take-home rapid test strips to detect fentanyl contamination in their drugs or urine. Participants received a short training on how to use the rapid test strips and were provided with 10 strips.

Results: Among 93 eligible participants, the mean age was 27 years (SD = 4.8), 52 (56%) participants were male, and 52 (56%) were white: 34 (37%) had a prior overdose. The vast majority (n=86, 95%) of participants wanted to know if there was fentanyl in their drug supply prior to their use. Sixty-five (70%) participants reported concern that their drugs were contaminated with fentanyl. The vast majority of participants (n=88, 95%) reported that they planned to use the test strips. After training, all participants reported feeling confident in their ability to test their urine or drugs for fentanyl.

Conclusions: More than 90% of participants in this pilot study reported willingness and confidence in their ability to use fentanyl test strips, suggesting that rapid testing is a feasible harm reduction intervention among young people who use drugs in Rhode Island. Study follow-up is ongoing to determine whether, how, and under what circumstances participants used these strips, and if positive test results reduce overdose risk behavior.

Abstract: WITHDRAWN: High Willingness to Use Rapid Fentanyl Test Strips Among Young Adults Who Use Drugs (Society for Prevention Research 26th Annual Meeting)

166 WITHDRAWN: High Willingness to Use Rapid Fentanyl Test Strips Among Young Adults Who Use Drugs